←Species
Embiotocidae
Barred Surfperch
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Field guide · §4.3

Barred Surfperch

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Amphistichus argenteus
Embiotocidae (surfperches) — live-bearers
Water
55-68°F
Best time
Diurnal
Tide
Incoming
Robert's pick

How to catch a barred surfperch

Bait
Live sand crab > motor oil grub > bloodworm > mussel
Rig
Carolina rig (1/4–1/2 oz egg sinker), 8 lb mono mainline + 6 lb fluorocarbon leader, #6 hook. OR high-low surf rig with two #6 hooks.
Technique
Cast into the trough; slow drag or let sit. Surfperch hit aggressively — set on first hard pull.
When they bite
Tide preference
Incoming (wash brings sand crabs to surface)
Time of day
Diurnal, strong dawn bias
Pressure
Any
Moon bias
Any
Sources
  • · CDFW Surfperch family page
  • · Tarp, F.H. (1952) A revision of the family Embiotocidae
Full citations in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.3.
← All species·§4.3 in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md

Barred Surfperch

◇
Amphistichus argenteus
Embiotocidae (surfperches) — live-bearersPrefers 55–68°F
Habitat & range

Where they live

CA range
Bodega Bay, CA → Pt. Cabras, Baja
Habitat types
Sandy surf zoneCobble/mixed surfSandy pier
Water temp
55–68°F preferred
Life history

Biology

Lifespan~9 years
Size at maturity~9" / 2–3 years
Growth rate~2"/year
SpawningLive-bearers — females carry 30–100 young to live birth in April–July. Embryos develop inside the ovary, nourished by ovarian fluid.
SchoolingSchools of 10–50 fish in the surf zone
DietSand crabs (>50%), mole crabs, marine worms, small clams, amphipods
PredatorsHalibut, sharks (leopard especially), pelicans (juveniles)
Behavior

When they bite

Tide preferenceIncoming (wash brings sand crabs to surface)
Time of dayDiurnal, strong dawn bias
Pressure biasAny
Moon biasAny
Field ID

How to identify

Silver with 8–11 dark vertical bars on sides (the bars give it the name), deep oval body, terminal mouth

Look-alikes

Walleye Surfperch (smaller, no bars, larger eye); Calico Surfperch (pinkish hue, mottled); Redtail Surfperch (red tail and lower fins)

Robert's pick

How to catch

Best baitLive sand crab > motor oil grub > bloodworm > mussel
Best rigCarolina rig (1/4–1/2 oz egg sinker), 8 lb mono mainline + 6 lb fluorocarbon leader, #6 hook. OR high-low surf rig with two #6 hooks.
TechniqueCast into the trough; slow drag or let sit. Surfperch hit aggressively — set on first hard pull.
California regulations
No size or bag limit specific to barred surfperch (general regulations apply). License required.

Always verify current regulations on the CDFW site.

Where to fish for Barred Surfperch

SoCal hotspots

Top spots from the doc: Carpinteria State Beach · Hendry's · El Porto · Hermosa Beach (inside) · Manhattan · Cardiff · Carlsbad · Silver Strand
All spots in the TideRead catalog that target Perch (48):
Aliso Beach
Laguna Beach · Orange County
Black's Beach
La Jolla · San Diego
Bolsa Chica SB
Huntington Beach · Orange County
Cabrillo Beach
San Pedro · Los Angeles
Cardiff State Beach
Cardiff · San Diego
Carlsbad State Beach
Carlsbad · San Diego
Carpinteria State Beach
Carpinteria · Santa Barbara
Corona del Mar SB
Corona del Mar · Orange County
Coronado Municipal Beach
Coronado · San Diego
Del Mar Beach
Del Mar · San Diego
Doheny State Beach
Dana Point · Orange County
El Capitán State Beach
El Capitán · Santa Barbara
El Porto Beach
Manhattan Beach · Los Angeles
El Segundo Beach
El Segundo · Los Angeles
Emma Wood State Beach
Ventura · Ventura
Fletcher Cove
Solana Beach · San Diego
Gaviota Pier
Gaviota · Santa Barbara
Goleta Beach Pier
Goleta · Santa Barbara
Hendry's (Arroyo Burro)
Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara
Hermosa Beach Pier
Hermosa Beach · Los Angeles
Hollywood Beach
Oxnard · Ventura
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla · San Diego
Leadbetter Beach
Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara
Mission Beach
Mission Beach · San Diego
Moonlight Beach
Encinitas · San Diego
Oxnard Shores
Oxnard · Ventura
Redondo–Torrance Beach (incl. RAT)
Torrance · Los Angeles
Refugio State Beach
Refugio · Santa Barbara
Rincon Point
Carpinteria · Ventura
Salt Creek Beach
Dana Point · Orange County
San Buenaventura SB
Ventura · Ventura
San Clemente Pier
San Clemente · Orange County
San Onofre State Beach
San Onofre · San Diego
Seal Beach Pier
Seal Beach · Orange County
Silver Strand SB
Coronado · San Diego
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach · Orange County
Surfers Point
Ventura · Ventura
Surfrider Beach
Malibu · Los Angeles
Swami's
Encinitas · San Diego
T-Street
San Clemente · Orange County
Tamarack SB
Carlsbad · San Diego
Tide Beach
Solana Beach · San Diego
Topanga State Beach
Topanga · Los Angeles
Torrey Pines SB
Torrey Pines · San Diego
Tourmaline Surf Park
Pacific Beach · San Diego
Trestles
San Clemente · Orange County
White Point
San Pedro · Los Angeles
Zuma Beach
Malibu · Los Angeles
Did you know

Surfperch are live-bearers — they give birth to fully-formed, free-swimming young. Most other CA marine fish broadcast spawn pelagic eggs.

Sources
  • · CDFW Surfperch family page
  • · Tarp, F.H. (1952) A revision of the family Embiotocidae
Full citations + cross-references in SPECIES-EVIDENCE.md §4.3.